Pad



March 21, 1944. c, w, GREENHlLL 2,344,549

PAD

Filed March 28, 1941 A; ORNEY Patented Mar. 2,1', 1944 UmTED. STATES PATENT ori-ics Charles W. Greerlihi, lirooklyn, N. Applicflol; )NIL 385,596

This invention relates to pads, such as are used with tables, desks and the like.

Due to the highly polished surface customarily employed on the tops of desks and tables,

y the ordinary table pads may shift considerably on the table tops.

It is an object of my invention therefore to provide a practical pad of the character described having improved means whereby it mayl be effectively anchored in any desired position on a table or desk top.

It is another object of my invention to provide a pad of the character described wherein the anchoring means are so constructed and arranged relative tothe pad that the top surface of the pad will remain unbroken and the bottom surface of the pad will lbe substantially in contact with or but slightly raised above the top surface of the table or desk.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pad of the character described having a plurality of rubber suction cups which are mounted on the table pad so that they project'only a slight distance beyond the bottom and are not visible at the top of the table.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a pad of the character described having a still' imperforate top supporting layer and rubber suction anchoring cups, the major portions of which are contained within the pads.

Additional objects of my invention are to provide a pad of the character described having anchoringmeans which are simple and inexpensive to make and mount, which are rugged in construction, comprise relatively few parts, and which shall withal be highly efficient for the purposes set forth.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obviousand in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features ofvconstruction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts whichA will be exemplified -in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pair of folding table -pads'embodying my invention;

Fig. 2-is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view thereof partially broken away to show the supporting structure for the suction cup;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line I-I of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, Iv have shown a pair of tablepads I0 and II, each of which is provided with a pair of folds I2 well known to the art, s0 that the pads Iland II may be opened to the shape shown in, Fig. 1. Said pads, juxtaposed asshown, form a figure having a predetermined plan Outline. which substantially matches the top surface of the article with which it is intended to be used: in. this instance a rectangular table with beveled' corners.

Each pad I0, II consists of a plurality of plies of comparatively stiff material, comprising a pair of juxtaposed center layers I3 and Il made from a sheet-like material of substantial strength such as a relatively rigid and hardsurfaced cardboard.

Above and below these layers are a pair of huiling` layers I5 and I6 which4 may also be fabricated from a sheet-like material of substantial strength such as a cardboard which is a little softer and y more flexible than the center layers I3 and I4.,

the surface of the bufllng .layersgbeing rough so that they appear to be felted. Two surface supporting layers Il and I8 are disposed above the-layers I5 and I6 and below the'layer I6, these supporting layers being made from mater rial substantially similar to'that employed forv the center layers I3 and I4 and being cushioned by the softer and more resilient .hurling layers I5 and I6.

The .top of the pad is covered with a layer of surfacing material, such as for example a waterproof 'textile fabric I9 having a decorative finish,

` such as a simulated wood grain.v The bottom of the pad is covered with a layer of felt 20. Both of the textile covering layers VI9 and 2U are two or more layers, .exclusive of the textile covering plies. m

In accordance with`"my invention, I provide pad anchoring means which are so constructed and mounted in the table pads I0 and II thatthey will be concealed from the top surface of (3 the pad but will not cause the pads to be raised appreciably, if at all, above the table surface.

VSaid means comprises a plurality of rubber suction cups 23, each having a frustoconica1 outer wall 24, a concave recess 25 in its larger end, and a flat surface 26 at its smaller end. The surface 26 is spaced a substantial distance away from 60 pads, I provide a fiat sheet metal plate .3l for.V

each of the cups 23, said plate being greater in at least one dimension than the larger end of the cups. The shank of the rivet 29 extends through a central aperture 30 in the sheet metal plate 3| and is headed over as at 32 so as to firmly secure said plate to the suction cup.

The mounting plate 3| and suction cup 23 are assembled as a unit apart from the table pads VIll and il. In order to insert these anchoring units into said pads, I form aligned apertures 33 in the felt layer 2|! and one or more contiguous overlying layers I8, I6, I4, I3 and '|5. These apertures are preferably cut through lthe said layers in one stroke of a hlanking press, before theedges of the pads are bound. After the apertures 33 have been formed, the large end of the rubber suction cup 23 which is slightly greater in diameter than said apertures, is forced therethrough unin'l theV mounting plate `3| rests against the uppermost apertured layer I5. The imperferate supporting layer Iland covering layer li!l are then put in position and the pads stitched together.

Means is provided to centrally locate the anchoring units in the apertures 33 and to prevent shifting of said units therein. Such means may comprise a set of four tangs 34 which are struck downwardly from the mounting plate 3| and which lie on the circumference of a circle of the same size as the apertures 33 and concentric with the rivet 23 and suction cup 23. The tangs 34 thus disposed will serve to guide the anchoring unit to the position Vrelative to the apertures shown in'Fig. 3 wherein the side wall 24 of the suction cup 23 is uniformly spaced away from said apertures.

If desired, a layer of adhesive 35 may be interposed between the mounting plate 3| and the top layer of cardboard Il to aid in securing the anchoring unit. Also, the corners of the plate 3| may be inclined towards the apertured -layers I3, I4, I5, IB and |8 and embedded in the uppermost layer thereof, as shown in Hg. 4. 1

'The anchoring units may be placed anywhere in the under surface of the pad, but I prefer to locate them near the line of stitching 22, where the layers |5 and are tightly bound together,

' table surface.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a vdevice in which the several objects of Vthis in vention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a sense. Y

Having thus described my invention, .I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent:

v1. A pad of the character described comprising a plurality of layers of a sheet-material of substantial strength. one of said layers having an aperture and one of said layers being imperforate, and an anchoring unit including a dat plate larger than said aperture and a suction cup permanently secured to said plate, said suction cup projecting through said aperture, said plate being disposed between said imperferate layer and said apertured layer, said plate having integral means for centrally locating said cup in said aperture.

2. A table pad comprising a plurality Vof panels foldedly connected, each of said panels comprising a plurality of-layers of a sheet-material of substantial strength, the uppermost of said layers in each of said panels being imperforate, the remaining layers having a set of aligned apertures, and an anchoring unit in each of said panels, said anchoring unit comprising a square sheet metal plate larger than said apertures and a rubber suction cup permanently attached to said plate, said plate being disposed between said imper'forate layer and the uppermost of said apertured layers, said suction cup projecting through saidV apertures and extending beyond the lower- Y most of said layers.

ioldedly connected, each ofsaid panels compris,- ing a plurality of layers of a sheet-material of substantial strength, the uppermost of each of said layers being imperforate, theremaining layers having a set of aligned apertures disposed near an outermost edge of said panel, and an anchoring unit in each of said panels, said anchoring unit comprising a square sheet ymetal plate larger than said apertures and a rubber suction cup permanently attached to said plate, said plate being disposed between said imperiorate layer and the uppermost o f said apertured layers, the corners of said plate being inclined towards said apertured layers and being imbedded in the -uppermost of said layers, the top surface of said lplate being adhesively secured to said'imperforate layer, said suction cup pro` Y tion cupprojecting through said aperture, said plate being disposed between said imperforate layer and said apertured layer, said plate having integral means for -centrally locating said cup in said aperture, said last named means comprising tangs which frictionally engage said perforated layer in the aperture thereof.

v5. A pad of the character described comprising a plurality of layers of a sheet material of r substantial strength, one of said layers having CHAS W. Gm om tu t 

